Valve



y 5, 1931- w. A. KEENEY 7 ,804,167

VALVE I Filed Sept. 10, 1929 ATTOR NEY.

Patented May 5, 1931 tetra TATES rice WILLIAM A. KEENEY, OF WETHEQSFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEENEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT VALVE Application filed September 10, 1929. Serial No. 391,662.

My invention relates to valves. v

It has for its object to provide an improved valve, and more particularly an improved valve adapted to use on radiators or the like.

A further object of myinvention is to provide such an improved valve having improved controlling means for the air and moisture escaping prior to the shutting of the Valve and wherein the diiiiculty with leakage blown out into the room is eliminated and,

a more clean and dry construction provided at the same time that the noise arising from the escaping air is also minimized. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved valve having the advantages set forth, which further is a valve of the gravity opening type and is adapted to be kept at all times in the vertical position which insures its most efiective operation. Still further objects of my invention include the provision of an improved and simplified valve structure, and such a structure which is adapted to be manufactured and assembled at small expense. These and other objects of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved valve attached to a radiator, the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the valve;

Fig. 3 is a plan view. of the valve;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base portion of the valve, the. upper portion thereof being removed to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig.2, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the valve in position on a radiator, a plurality of other positions occupied during attachment also being shown in dotted lines.

In this illustrative construction I have shown a valve comprising a usual casing 1 and having avalve aperture 2 carried in the top thereof and controlled by a float 3 of any usual expansible fiuid type, which is movable vertically between the valve seat and a bottom support 4, herein carried within a casing base 5 which is in turn connectible to a radiator by a threaded projection 6 carrya ing a usual drainage tube 7.

In my improved construction, improved which is of substantially larger diameter than the member 9 and also has a closed tcp 13 spaced above the upper end of the passage 8 and vertical sides 14 spaced from the sides of the member 9 and herein extending substantially below the top of the latter. This casing member 12 is herein also provided with a small lateral outlet or port 15, herein closely'adjacent the base of the sides 14. Thus it will be noted that the flow through the valve aperture 2 is first directed upward against the top 13 and thereby caused to be diffused and reversed and passed down inside the walls 14 and between the same and the member 9. Accordingly, the moisture contained in the flow is effectually separated and caused to flow down the verticalwalls 14 of the member 12, while, due to the large areaot the chamber 16 provided and the relatively small size of the outlet 15, only a small portion of entrained liquid of condensation is expelled through the port 15 with the escaping air, while the latter also escapes'quite noiselessly.

Attention is further directed to the fact that improved moisture collecting and ab sorbing means are provided. Herein, it will be noted that the member 12 is also provlded, below its sides 14, with an annular outwardly extending flange 1? which is inclined slightly v upward toward its outer periphery. This flange forms an annular groove adapted to intercept liquidflowmg down from the aper- More (iii

ture 15. It will also be observed that 1 provide one or more, herein four, apertures 18 in this flange and spaced around the same, which lead downward ano drain any caught liquid into the interior of a bas 19 termed on the member 12. Further, I herein also provide in this base 19 and herein filling the latter and fitted on the reduced extension 11, a washer or washers 20, herein two, of a suitable absorbent material, such, for example, as an asbestos composition. Attention is here also directed to the fact that the base member 19 is subs ally larger in diameter than the extension 11, while the walls 14 and l"? are lso substantially spaced from that extension. Thus it will be observed that not only is the escape of liquid minimized, as previously dos ribed, but all liquid remaining in the chamber 16 is drained down the walls 1-1 and absorbed by the absorbent material, while escaping liquid is prevented from flowing down over the valve, the same instead being caught by the flange 1? and supplied through the apertures 18 to the absorbent material, all in such manner as to maintain a clean, dry valve.

In my improved construction, I have also provided improved inlet means and connections disposed at the opposite end of the float from the means heretofore described. As shown herein, itwill be noted that the support t is in the form of a pin suitably attached, as by soldering, in a recess in the top oi": a horizontal inlet member 21. This inlet member 21 herein is inserted as a unit through a suitable aperture 22 in the side wall of the portion 5 and suitably attached, by soldering, to the side and bottom of that portion. Attention is also directed to the fact that this member 21 is of polygonal exernal cross section, and that the opening 22 is correspondingly shaped (see Fig. 5), all in such manner that the member 21 is thus locked against rotation relative to the portion 5 when inserted in the latter. It will, moreover, be noted that the bore 23 of this member 21 not only extends through its threaded connection 6 but is also provided ith a top transverse slot or outlet 2% closely adjacent and beneath the float 8 and between the support 1 and the threaded portion 6. It is also herein provided with an axial end perture 25 on the opposite side of the support 1- from the slot 24: and adapted to receive condensation and permit its: flow to the drainage tube 7. Attention is also directed to the fact that the pin 1 is extended into this bore 23 in such manner that it will enwith a flange 25 on the inner end of the drain tube 7 and accordingly act to prevent the withdrawal of the latter, while leaving the tube free to move between the limits established by the pin and the adjacent edge of the axial aperture 25.

Attention is also directed to the fact that herein 1 have provided upon the member 21 a threaded flange 27, preferably formed integral therewith, and disposed between the threaded portion 6 and the portion 5 and 01 slightly larger diameter than the aperture 22 and the portion 6. Attention is also directed to the fact that a rotatable locking member 28 is carried on th threads on the member 27 and adjustable thereon. Thus, it is made possible for my improved valve to be kept at all times in the vertical position wherein the float 21 operates most eiii'ectively, the locking member 28 acting to hold the valve in that position when the valve and this locking member are properly adjusted relative to one another and the radiator. More particularly, this construction makes it possible, when the valve is being threaded by portion 6 into the usual tap hole in a radiator, to carry the valve as a whole beyond the vertical into the dotted line position shown the right in Fig. 5, and then pull it back into the dotted line position shown at the left in that figure, whereupon the locking member 28 can be turned up tight and the valve thereafter moved into the desired vertical position shown in full lines, in which it is securely held against any accidental movement to one side or the other causing improper functioning of the float.

In the operation of my improved valve, it will be understood that, as usual in such 'alves, when the steam is turned on, the cold air in the ra liator will enter the valve through the portion 6 and slot 2 1- and pass out of the casing 1 through the port 2, which will then be open, while, when the steam commences to flow, the float 3 will act to close the valve 2 and condensation within the casing 1 will flow out through the aperture 25. It will also be understood that the members 9 and 1 will preferably be soldered in their position and that the members 5, 12 and 21 will also be soldered. Considering the operation more particularly, it will be noted that due to the reversal of the flow and to the improved passage means provided between the valve aperture 2 and outlet aperture 15, the amount of liquid passing through the latter is substantially reduced at the same time that the operation of the valve is made more quiet. Further, it will be no ed that due to the provision oi the flange 1'? and the apertures 18 in the latter, together with the absorbing means 19, the diliiculty with escaping moisture is minimized while the drainage down the walls l l is also absorbed, and the absorbent material is, of course, subsequently dried by the heat. Moreover, through my improved construction at the base of the float, it is made possible to use only a simple base 5 and member 21 and insert the latter as a unit laterally and simultaneously interlock it with the base 5 in the position in which it is desired to solder the parts together. Moreover, it will be noted that through the improved passages 24 and 25 in the member 21, that member is All) rendered effective to supply heat directly and said absorbing means andv having both an quickly to the float and to drain oil condensation while maintaining simplicity and cheapness. This construction also includes a very simple and eflective supporting member 4, which is also adapted to cooperate with the drainage tube in a new and effective manner. Through the provision or" my improved locking means carried on this improved member 21 and comprising the threaded portion 27 and locking member 28 thereon and disposed between the portions 5 and 6 and of different diameter from either of the latter, an exceedingly simple and inexpensive locking means is provided especially adapted to be provided on my new member 21 and whereby it is made possible to maintain the valve in the vertical position required for effective operation. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form is shown for purposes of illustration only, and that the invention may be modified and embodied invarious other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2-- 1. In a radiator valve, a valve casing having an air escape valve therein and an outlet, and liquid absorbing means in said casing having communication with said outlet and receiving through said communication liquid escaping through said outlet.

2. In a radiator valve, a valve casing having an air escape valve therein and an outlet, liquid separating means between the same receiving the discharge from said valve, and liquid absorbing means in said casing having a c mmunication with the separated liquid not previously passed out through said outlet, and also a communication with the liquid passed through the latter.

3. In a radiator valve, a casing having an air escape valve therein and an outlet, and liquid intercepting means intercepting liquid discharged through said outlet and having drain means leading therefrom into said casing.

. i. In a radiator valve, a casing having an air escape valve therein and an outlet from said casing, liquid intercepting means adjacent said outlet intercepting liquid flowing out of the latter, absorbing means in said casing, and means for supplying thereto through said intercepting means the intercepted liquid.

5. In a radiator valve, a casing having an air escape valve therein, absorbing means on said casing surrounding said valve, and a cover member of larger diameter than said enclosing the discharge thereof and outlet above said absorbing means and com-.

munications with said absorbing means for liquid passing through said outlet and liquid remaining in said cover member.

6.:A radiator valve comprising a casing,

an'air: escape valve therein, a floatcontrol lin 'the latter a float sua ort .carr in and O 3 J. b inlet member insertable as a unit through the side of: said casingv below said float, and a floatsupport carried by said member.

'7. -A- radiator valve comprising a casing having an aperturein its side, an air escape valve in said casing, a float therein controlling saidvalve, afloat support carrying and inlet memberinsertable as a unit through said aperture and interlocking with the walls thereof, and a float support carried by said member.

8. In a radiator valve comprising a casing, an air escape valve therein, a float controlling the latter, a float support carrying member insertable as a unit through the side of said casing below said float, said member having within the casing and beneath said float an upwardly opening air and steam supply, and a float support carried by said member.

9. A combined supply, drainage, and float support means for radiator valves, comprising an elongated member having a bore, a supply outlet leading from said bore, a drainage aperture leading to said bore, and a float support carried by said member.

10. A combined supply, drainage and float support means for radiators comprising an elongated member having a bore, a supply outlet leading from said bore, a drainage aperture leading to said bore, a float support, and a drainage tube engageable by the latter.

11. A combined supply, drainage, and float support means for radiator valves, comprising an elongated member having a bore, a supply outlet leading from said bore, a drainage aperture leading to said bore, a float supporting extending into the bore, and a drain tube in the bore limited in its movement by said support.

12. A radiator valve comprising a casing, a base therefor having an aperture in its side, an air escape Valve in said casing, a float therein controlling said valve, an inlet member insertable as a unit through said aperture, a float support carried by said member, and interlocking rotation preventing means on said member and the walls of said aperture.

13. In a radiator valve, a valve casing, an

.air escape valve therein having a projecting outlet, absorbent material disposed around said valve below the outlet thereof, and enclosing means for said material and the valve outlet having a liquid separating dome enclosing the latter and communicating with said absorbent material and having a lateral outlet therein above said absorbent material.,

14:. In a radiator valve, a valve casing, an air escape valve therein having a projecting I outlet, absorbent material disposed around said valve below the outlet thereof enclosing means for said material and the valve outlet having a liquid separating dome enclosing the latter and communicating with said absorbent material and having a lateral outlet therein above said absorbent' material, and means in said enclosing means delivering to said absorbent material liquid passing out through said outlet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

15 WILLIAM A. KEENEY. 

